Dayton Daily News - August 3, 1946

Plane Ride Ends in Reunion of Relatives After 52 Years

Original picture from article.

FAMILY REUNION - Mrs. Lillie Thomas Stewart, center, was greeted by brothers, stepbrother and stepmother at the Dayton Municipal airport Friday after a separation of 52 years. Left to right, Darrel Thomas, Arlington Thomas, Mrs. Stewart, Claude Thomas and Mrs. Rosa Thomas.

[transcription of article]

Fifty-two years after leaving Oxford, W. Va., for Camas, Wash., Mrs. Lillie Thomas Stewart, 76, was reunited with her relatives in Dayton, Friday.

The reunion took place at the Dayton Municipal airport. Mrs. Steward made the trip from Camas in a Trans World Airlines plane.

On hand to greet her were two brothers, Claude Thomas, 523 S. Jefferson st., and Arlington Thomas, 2229 Koehler av.; a half-brother, Darrell Thomas of N. Kilmer st., and her stepmother, Mrs. Rosa Thomas who journeyed from Oxford for the occasion. Another half brother, Alton Thomas who also lives in Dayton, was not present. All were former residents of Oxford who have moved to ayton in the intervening years.

Mrs. Stewart parted from her family in West Virginia in 1894 to journey by rail to Portland, Ore., where she made her home until a few years ago. Camas lies just across the river from Portland.

Her first visit to Dayton was preceded by her first plane ride which she said she enjoyed immensely. "It was no trouble at all," she remarked.

Although Mrs. Stewart did not recognize the other members of the family right away, they all knew her at first glance.

After spending some time in Dayton Mrs. Stewart will continue on to Pennsylvania to visit her sister.